Paris is Always a Good Idea

I have recently discovered a saying floating around on the internet that proclaims, "Paris is always a good idea". And, to add to the intrigue of such skilfully crafted words, it doesn't hurt that they were spoken by none other than the fabulous Miss Audrey Hepburn herself! And with my upcoming trip to Frankfurt, Germany in December I was really debating whether or not it would be worth it to take a 4 hour train ride to Paris (especially since it will be pretty cold by then). But, after seeing this quote and thinking about what I would be potentially missing out on, I decided to just go for it. I am not usually one to do spontaneous things and like to measure out all of the risk factors before committing to something. But, I am actually excited for a solo trip to Europe and look forward to making memories that I can reflect on for the rest of my life.

Anyways, on to the actual point of this post...this quote really got me thinking about all of the (sometimes seemingly trivial) things in life that are always worth it. I thought it would be a fun post for the reader who isn't always the first to dip her toes in the water. So, here we go:

Cleaning Out Your Closet
It is always...I repeat ALWAYS a good idea to clean out your closet from time to time. Not only does this help to declutter your space and your mid, but it also gives you a better idea of what you have. I am sure that I am not the only one who forgets they even owned a certain piece until they dig it up from the depths of their wardrobe. Look at the bright side, cleaning out your closet could turn into a treasure hunt of sorts. Hello, where do you think they get the saying "shop your own closet" from? Another great plus is being able to give away pieces that don't work for you anymore, passing them onto someone who really needs them, and making room for new purchases. See? It is a win-win situation!

Being Kind

This one may seem a bit obvious, but you have no idea how many times a day I find myself wanting to tell someone to just calm down and be kind. Everyone has things going on that make their day less than perfect ,but it is so unfair to take that anxiety out on others around us. Now, it goes without saying that I preach this to myself before anyone else. Something I find really helpful when I am sad and feel like acting less than pleasant is doing something creative to release the negative energy (like writing on this blog)! You would be surprised how much it helps to just do something you love every once in a while to get away from the hectic state of your life at times. And, being kind also has a calming effect because the attitude you give to the others is the one that you will get back from them. Ever heard the saying, "you reap what you sow"?

Taking Care of the Little Ones in Your Life

This idea goes for any children in your life whether they be your younger siblings, cousins, or your own kids. We all know that children are very 'malleable' and look up to their elders as role models. So, why not actually give them a good example to look up to? I personally have two younger sisters and see first hand on a daily basis how they try to mimic my every action. This has definitely made me a lot more conscientious about the way I act around them. Even though, I am crammed with school work most of the time and have many late nights, I try my best to do something enjoyable with them whenever I get a chance. For example, tomorrow my sisters are off from school, so I am taking the to school with me. They are beyond excited about seeing what university life is like! My sisters also love it when I tell them bedtime stories. I always feel like I tell boring stories, but my sisters love the stories I make up better than the ones I read out of any book!

Let me know what you all think of this post...I am thinking of doing another one about things that are NEVER a good idea! Would you like to see that? Comment below if it tickles your fancy!

(images via weheartit)

The True Character of Muhammad!

I do not really talk about not-fun topics on my blog, but I felt that it was necessary for me to address this issue in some way as I am a Muslim and would like the freedom to defend my faith if I feel it has been attacked in some way. As many of my registered readers (especially those who follow on facebook and twitter) are desi, you guys have probably at least heard about the controversial film released recently that portrays our beloved Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in a negative light. I am not going to mention the director or the name of the film on here because I do not think they deserve any more attention than they have already received. But, I will say this much...everything depicted in the film is false and based on ignorance. The makers of the film obviously did not do any research on Islam and seemed solely to have been on the hunt for attention.

Although, I completely condemn this film, I also condemn any violence or protests that have been taking place as a result of it. The news is filled with examples of Muslims all over the world getting their anger out in the wrong ways. The most horrifying example for me was when a certain Pakistani politician announced that he is offering a large reward to the individual who commits the murder of the director of the film! What a huge disappointment!

So, I present to you, the moderate Islamic response to the film and its disgusting portrayal of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)! I hope it acts as much as an eye opener for you as it has for me. Then you decide what you support...the film, the violence and protests, or the intellectual and well informed proclamation of the truth. So, what will it will it be? Feel free to leave your politely delivered responses in the comments below: